The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-03-31
THOMAS SQUARE.

gardens are one of the conspicuous
deficiencies of Honolulu. 1t can
hardly be wondered at, considering
that it is city that was not sur
veyed and laid out AS such in the
first instance, but has grown up, as
it were, by accident, and has been
gradually reduced to a distant APP
proach TO symmetry since. Emma
Square, circumscribed plot Of land
near the centre of the city, was the
only piece of public property serv-
ing as place of public resort, until
within the past few years. During
the period indicated, Kapiolani
Park, at Waikiki, and the Rccrea-
tion Grounds, at Makiki, have been
added, and have served useful pur-
poses, but are not favorably situated
for ordinary public resort on ordi-
nary occasions.
The Park, being four or five
miles from the city, although good
place for races, for grand picnics on
general holidays, and for people who
can afford to keep horses and car
riages to drive around whenever the
inclination seiZes them, is too far
from the centre of population to be
used as u regular pleasure ground
by the general public. The Makiki
Recreation Grounds, too, although
nearer the centre of population, and
admirably adapted for baseball,
cricket, and military reviews, are
also too far away.
A more recent addition TO our
too few places of public resort, and
one that is destined to become more
popular than either of the two last
named, because of its location, being
probably little less than a mile
from the heart of the city proper, is
Thomas Square. When we say this
is more recent addition, it is not
intended to imply that it has been
acquired and set apart as public
resort more recently, but that il has
become recognized and come into
actual use rs such at q later date
than the other places referred to.
Indeed, although never closed to
the public, it has not yet been
regularly inaugurated as regular
public pleasure retreat. That is an
event in the near future.
Thomas Square, unlike Emma
Square in this respect, is of res
pectable dimensions, embracing an
area of six or seven acres. From
Beretania street on one side, it eX-
tends to King street on the opposite
side, being bounded on the right
angles by Victoria street and Kapio-
lani street. Its name is derived
from the British Admiral Thomas,
who in lS43 restored to Hawaii her
national flag, which had been tenn
porarily hauled down by Lord
George Paulet, and the plot of land
was set apart as a public reserve in
memory of the event.
There it remained, wild, waste,
and neglected, for many years, until
1882, when il was given. in charge
to Hon. A. $. Cleghorn, and a
small sum of money appropriated
by the Legislature for its improve
ment. During the comparatively
short period which has elapsed
since that date, great change in
appearance has taken place-so
great that person not having wit
messed the intermediate gradations,
would not now know it as the same
place. The pits and rises which
then existed have been superseded
by an even surface, with gentle
slope from the upper to the lower
side. The treeless and shadeless
square has become thickly studded
with great variety of trees, which
serve the double purpose of shade
and ornamentatiOn, and some of
which have attained n surprising
growth. Where worthless weeds
sprang up after every rain and
prickly burs strewed the surface in
times Of drought, a covering of
perennial green, woven of the pretty
Bermuda grass, greets and delights
the eye. The grass carpeted earth
beneath and the leafy foliage above
make it place of refreshing COOL
ness on the hottest of days. An
artesian well at one corner of the
square furnishes an cxhaustless
supply of pure water, which is con-
Quoted to every part of the grounds